Nonrefillable bottle



Sept. 3, 1935. s. LAZARUS NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE Filed Jan. 26,. 1935gwmnto'c J/mon Lazarus wgidmwg Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STT 6Claims.

This invention relates to an improved means for rendering bottles, jarsand similar receptacles non-refillable. It has particular application tothe distillery trade wherein the distinctive bottles employed by variousdistillers would be reused by bootleggers to sell inferior productsunless such bottles were rendered unfit for further usage.

However, as the description proceeds it will become apparent that myinvention is by no means limited to any particular use, but on thecontrary may be used in widely varying fields, wherever a receptacleafter having served its requisite function must be rendered unfit forfurther use.

As a result of the need for a practical means serving this purpose, alarge number of devices have been developed. So far as is known,however, all such devices have certain inherent disadvantages which haveprevented their widespread adoption. Therefore, it is a prime object ofthis invention to provide a means of this nature which will beinexpensive, reliable and suitable for diiTerent uses.

A second object is to provide a means which has a positive lockingaction with the neck ofa bottle and which is both simple to install andnondetachable after having been installed.

A third object is to provide a means which will permit a free flow ofliquid from the bottle but which will provide an instant and completecheck to the inflow of any liquid into the bottle.

" Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds 35 when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing of which Figure 1 is a partial elevation viewshowing the improved device installed in a receptacle and occupying itsclosed position.

4 Figure 2 is a partial elevation view showing the device installed in areceptacle and occupying its open position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the device in its closed position drawnto a larger scale.

45 Figure 4 is an elevation view of the thimble prior to assembly andinstallation.

' Figure 5 is an elevation view of the valve means prior to its assemblyand installation.

' Figure 6 is a plan view of the thimble shown in Figure 4 while Figure7 is a broken away elevation view of one of the perforations of thethimble shown on a larger scale. 7

As illustrated in this drawing, the bottle or other receptacle I has arestricted outlet or neck 2* intowhich my improved device is insertablefor the purpose of making the receptacle nonrefillable. The neck 2 isformed with an interior recess 3 which may extend entirely around theinner periphery of the neck or may be made in a series of smallindividual recesses depending upon the manufacturing process employed.The location of such recess on the neck of the receptacle will dependlargely upon the particular shape of receptacle used. As shown in Figure1, a cork or stopper Q is inserted into the open end of the neck andprovides a barrier to evaporation or accidental spilling of thecontents. It is to be noted that such cork extends downwardly andterminates above the upper edge of the insertable member so that noleakage can take place around the insertable member as would be the caseif the cork fitted within such member. Furthermore, the cork will at notime tend to bind upon the member as is the case in certain otherconstructions. It is obvious that a screw top may be provided for thereceptacle in lieu of a cork, if such a construction appears to be moredesirable.

As best shown in Figure 3, the insertable member comprises a thimbleelement It having a cylindrical upper portion H with a periphery adaptedto fit closely within the neck of the receptacle. The lower end of thethimble comprises a curved cylindrical'portion l2 forming a valve seatand terminating in an open bottom. It is contemplated that the thimblewill be constructed of such metallic material as will be impervious tothe contents of the recepacle although in certain usages thisrequirement may not be necessary. However, in the event that the deviceis used in a receptacle containing alcoholic beverages it is desirablethat the thimble be constructed of a metallic material such as copper oraluminum.

At the upper cylindrical portion of the thimble a series of perforationsl4 are cut into the metal and are adapted to be expanded into lockingpositions with the recess 3 in a manner more completely explainedhereinafter. A hollow valve element l5 comprising a solid bottom andthin sides I6 is formed with an outer curvature corresponding to theinner surface of the lower end I2 of the thimble and is adapted to seatsecurely upon the thimble whenever the receptacle is held in asubstantially upright position. Due to the curvature of valve and valveseat the device is self-seating and will automatically adjust itself sothat a close fit is established at all times.

Bored through sides i t of the valve element is a series of holes llwhichprovide a readyoutlet for the contents of the receptacle when thevalve is displaced outwardly. These holes are located a substantialdistance above the lower edge of the thimble surface so thatcommunication between the interior of the receptacle and the interior ofthe thimble can be established only when the valve is displacedoutwardly as by inverting the receptacle. In this way it is impossibleto refill the receptacle since the valve is always seated when thestructure is in upright position which in turn is the only position inwhich any material could be poured into such receptacle.

As shown in Figure 2, the contents of the receptacle may discharge botharound the sides It of the valve and through the holes I! of the valve,thus insuring a steady and uninterrupted flow.

In order to limit the outward movement of the valve an anchor means IBis securely affixed to the solid bottom of such valve and in itsexpanded position shown in Figures 2 and 3 will engage with the lowerend of the open thimble I2 to prevent the valve dropping out of thereceptacle.

In Figure 5 the valve is shown prior to assembly and the anchor means l8as shown therein comprises two prongs partially separated. It iscontemplated that in manufacture the anchor means will be formed bysplitting the single rod attached to the fottom of the valve. Afterassembling the valve and thimble such anchor ends will be bent furtherinto the position shown in Figure 3 wherein only a limited movementbetween valve and thimble will be possible.

'As best shown in Figure '7 the perforations of the upper thimbleportion comprise a set of five slots cut at divergent angles and soarranged that when the metal is expanded, as by the insertion of anexpanding member, a set of four teeth Ma, Mb, I40, and Md will be forcedoutwardly into contact with the recess 3. Such teeth will give a sturdyfrictional resistance with the surface of the recess and having theiropen ends bent outwardly will render impossible any subsequentdetachment from the receptacle.

It is obvious that other shapes and configurations may be given to theseteeth without departing from the scope of the invention and that thenumber of sets of perforations may vary according to the particularapplication.

In the practice of my invention the following procedure would befollowed. The receptacle is first filled with its contents andmaintained in an upright position. The valve element is inserted in thethimble member and the prongs of the valve anchor are then bent into theposition shown in Figure 3. The thimble and valve are then inserted intothe neck of the receptacle and positioned with perforations I4 in linewith recess 3. A removable expanding means is then inserted into thethimble and is operated to separate the slotted thimble material and topush the various teeth Ma, Mb, I40, and Mid into frictional engagementwith the recess. Thereupon the expanding means is removed and the corkis applied to the neck 2.

When it is desired to empty the receptacle it is turned into theposition shown in Figure 2 and. the valve falls by gravity and by thepressure of the contents into the outward position. A ready dischargethen takes place around the walls of the valve and through the holes I!in those walls. Whenever the structure is returned. to substantiallyupright position the valve falls back into its original position andreseats itself by virtue of its curved construction. In so reseatingitself the holes I! are closed off by the inner surface of the thimbleand it then becomes impossible to pour the contents back into thereceptacle.

When the receptacle has once been emptied it becomes unfit for furtheruse and must be discarded. Any tampering with the valve and thimblemeans would result in disfiguration of the same and would clearly showthat the receptacle was being used in an unwarranted manner.

By reason of this fact the present invention provides an assurance toany party using a distinctive bottle or the like that such bottle cannot be later used for unauthorized purposes without being subject toinstant detection.

Having thus disclosed the invention it is obvious that variations of thesame may be employed without departing from the scope of the same and itis my intention to cover by the appended claims such changes as mayreasonably be included within the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In an article of the class described, the combination of a bottleneck having an interior recess, a hollow open-ended thimble memberinsertable in the neck, a series of perforations adjacent the upper edgeof the thimble whereby portions of said thimble may be expanded intonon-detachable union with the recess, an open concave lower end of thethimble forming a valve seat, a one way valve member curved to conformto the surface of the valve seat and having a series of holes boredtherethrough above the bottom of the valve seat and means affixed to thelower portion of the valve to limit its outward movement.

2. In combination, a non-refillable bottle having a neck provided withan interior recess, a thimble insertable within the neck and having aperiphery closely fitted to the inner periphery of the neck, a series ofperforations adjacent the upper end of the thimble, each perforationcomprising a plurality of slots cut at diverging angles whereby portionsof the thimble may be expanded into non-detachable union with the recessof the bottle neck, a curved open lower end of the thimble forming avalve seat, a self-seating valve adapted to seat on the lower end of thethimble whenever the bottle is held in upright position, means to limitthe outward movement of the valve when the bottle is tipped over andholes bored in the valve above its lower surface whereby the contentsmay discharge from the bottle both around and through the valve wheneverthe valve is unseated.

3. In an article of the class described, the combination of a bottleneck, a hollow open-ended thimble member insertable in the neck, saidmember having a diameter at its'upper end substantially equal to theinner diameter of the bottle neck and tapering to a substantiallysmaller diameter at its lower end, means to join the said member to thebottle neck in non-detachable, locking union, a valve member comprisinga solid base and an upturned perforated side and. adapted to seatnormally on the lower end of the thimble member and-anchor means aflixedto the solid base of the valve to limit the movement of the valve intothe thimble member when said valve is unseated, whereby the solid baseof the valve may form a barrier to the refilling of the bottle when thevalve is seated in its normal position.

4. In an article of the class described, the combination of a bottleneck, a hollow open-ended thimble member insertable in the neck, meansto lock the member in non-detachable union with the bottle neck, saidmember having a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of thebottle neck at its upper end and tapering to a smaller diameter at itslower end, a valve having a solid base and a perforated upturned sideadapted to seat normally on the lower end of the thimble with thethimble covering the perforations in the side of the valve in suchnormal position, the valve being adapted to move into the thimble memberwhen the bottle is tipped over, means to limit the movement of the valveinto the thimble member, whereby the contents of the bottle maydischarge outwardly around the upturned side of such displaced valve andthrough the perforation in the sides of such valve.

5. In combination, a bottle neck, an openended tapered thimble memberinsertable in the neck, means locking the thimble to the neck innon-detachable union, a movable valve having a solid base and aperforated upturned side normally seated on the lower end of the thimblemember with the perforated side covered by the thimble member, means tolimit the movement of the valve into the thimble member when the bottleis tipped over, whereby the contents of said bottle may discharge aroundand through the valve in such position and the solid base of the valvemay prevent the refilling of such bottle when the same is held in normalupright position.

6. In combination, a bottle neck, an open-ended tapered thimble memberinsertable in the neck, means locking the thimble to the neck innondetachable union, said thimble member termi-- mating in an openconcave valve seat at its lower end, a convex shaped valve having asolid base and an upturned perforated side, said valve normally seatingon the concave valve seat with the perforated side of the valve coveredby the sides of the tapered thimble member, means to limit the movementof the valve into the thimble member when the bottle is tipped over,whereby the contents of said bottle may discharge around and through thevalve in such position and the solid base of the valve may prevent therefilling of such bottle when the same is held in normal uprightposition.

SIMON LAZARUS.

